Check-lock.



9 O I z;

G. E. FREELAND.

CHECK LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1911.

1,022,473. Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

aEE'eeZand,

U. E. PREELAND.

GHEGK LOOK.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 8. 1911.

1 ,O22,4;73, Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

2 BEEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANouRAPl-I 60-, WASHINGTON, D. c.

rrn STA CHARLES E. FREELAND, 0F WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE W. AUKERIVIAN, OF CADIZ, OHIO.

CHECK-LOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. FREELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wheeling, in the county of Ohio and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Locks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawlhis invention relates to looks and more particularly to an improved check lock whereby the loss of the checks of doors or lockers is obviated.

The primary object of the present inven tion is to provide simple and novel locking mechanism whereby the check is automatically locked by the insertion of the same into the lock case.

A still further objectof the invention is to provide a check lock consisting of comparatively few simply constructed elements which may be produced at low cost, are not liable to get out of order and are extremely eflicient and durable in practical operation.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a check lock embodying my improvements, showing a check therein, and the lock casing in section; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts after the lock has been operated to release the check; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4+4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the gravity actuated releasing member; Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the locking elements; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the operating member; and Fig. 8 is a similar view of the check,

I provide a lock case 5 which is preferably of rectangular form and is constructed from sheet metal. This case is also preferably provided with a removable side plate 6 whereby ready access to the mechanism arranged within the case may be had. A pair of laterally extending plates 7 are arranged within the lock case and have flanges 8 formed on one of their ends for attachment to one of the walls of the case 5 upon either Specification of Letters IPatent.

Application filed April 8, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 619,778.

side of a vertical slot 9 which is provided therein. The plates 7 are thus disposed in spaced parallel relation and suitable spacing members 7 are arranged between the upper and lower edges of the plates through which the rivets or other fastening elements 10 extend. The upper and lower edges of the plates 7 are provided at opposite points with a notch 11, the purpose of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

Upon the inner ends of the plates 7 and adjacent to the longitudinal edges thereof the locking elements 12 are pivotally mounted upon the pins 13 which extend transversely through said plates. These locking elements are each formed from a length of wire bent to provide an elongated loop 1 1, the intermediate portion of which is adapted for engagement in one of the notches 11 when the locking element is in its normal locking position. One end of this wire is formed into an eye 15 for engagement upon the pivot pin 13, said wire being coiled adjacent to its other end as shown at 16 for engagement upon said pin on the opposite side of the plate 7. The end portion of the wire adjacent to the coil 16 is angularly extended, said end portions, when the locking elements are in the position shown in Fig. 2 extending upon opposite sides of their respective pivots. A weight 17 is fixed tothe angularly disposed ends of these locking elements, and normally acts to retain the same in their locking positions as shown in Fig. 1.

A pair of parallel bars 18 are fixed at one of their ends to the case 5 and extend in an opposite direction to the plates 7. A U- shaped rod 19 has its ends offset as shown at 20 and pivotally mounted in the ends of the parallel bars 18. The extremities of this U- shaped rod are disposed in engagement with the angularly extended end portions of the locking elements 12.

The rod 19 is rocked to move the elements 12 to their release positions in the following manner. The side wall 5 of the lock case opposit to the cover 6 is provided with a short horizontal slot 21 through which a bolt 22 extends. The outer end of this bolt is threaded to receive a nut 23 whereby the bolt may be rigidly secured in its adjusted position in the slot. Upon the inner portion of the bolt 22 between the head thereof and the side wall of the case, the releasing member 24 is pivotally mounted. This member consists of a rod bent to provide a loop 25. One end of the rod is provided wit-h an eye 26 loosely engaged upon the bolt 22, and said rod adjacent to its other end has a coil 27 disposed on said bolt. From this coil the end of the rod is upwardly extended and is bent at right angles to provide a transversely projecting arm 28 which extends beneath the upper bar 18 and is disposed adjacent to the U-shaped rod 19 in Fig. 1. A weight 29 is secured in the loop 25 which acts to normally dispose said releasing member in the position shown in Fig. 2. This member is actuated and sustained in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of an operating member 30 which consists of a rod mounted in a bearing plate 31 secured to the bottom of the lock case. This rod is bent adjacent to its inner end into U-shaped form as indicated at 32 and has a weight 33 secured therein. The other end of said rod extends through an opening in the cover of the lock case and is provided with a suitable finger-piece 34 whereby said rod may be rotated in its bearing. The upper end of the weight 33 is engaged with th lower edge of the weight 29 carried by the member 24 and supports said weight when the elements 12 are in their locking positions. A stud 35 is fixed in the weight 29 and limits the movement of the operating member 30 in one direction, and a stop 36 is fixed to the wall 5 of th case to limit the movement of said member in the opposite direction. A second stop 37 is also secured to the wall of the lock case to limit the upward movement of the member 24.

In the operation of the lock, assuming thatthe parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, one of the checks 38 shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings is inserted into the slot 9 in the wall of the lock case to the limit of its movement between the spaced plates 7 When in such position the notches 39 in the opposite longitudinal edges of the check are in register with the notches 11 in said plates. In this movement of the check, the rounded edge 38 engages the ends of the loops 14 of the elements 12 and slightly raises the same in said notches until the check has been fully inserted. The loops 14 then drop into the notches of the check and securely hold the same in position between said plates. In order to remove the check from the lock, the operator simply rotates the member 30 and throws the weight 33 carried thereby into the position shown in Fig. 2. The weight 29 will thus drop and move the arm 28 of the member 24 against the U-shaped rod 19 thereby swinging said rod in the ends of the bars 18 and throwing the weighted locking elements 12 into the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein, it will be observed that the loops are disposed out of the notches in the check so that it may be readily withdrawn. Upon moving the operating member 30 in the opposite direction, the weight 29 is raised to move the arm 28 out of contact with the rod 19. The weights 17 of the members 12 then return said members to their normal positions, so that the loops 14 are again disposed in the notches of the plates 7.

In order to prevent the release of the check by the operation of the member 30, it is only necessary to move the bolt 22 in the slot 21 to the position shown in dot-ted lines in Fig. 2. The extent of movement of the arm 28 of the member 24 will then be insufficient to engage and move the rod 19 so as to dispose the elements 12 in their released positions. In this manner the operation of the lock may be easily prevented so that the check is permanently locked therein. Thus the person having charge of the checks is at all times assured of their safety against unauthorized removal.

My improved check lock is also adapted to be used upon mining cars for locking the miners check. In certain mining localities, the miners are provided with checks each having a number thereon and as they load the cars with coal, the check is applied to the car. WVhen the car reaches the tilting track section and is dumped, the check is removed and the miner given credit for loading the car. These checks are usually hung upon pegs secured to the car and often become lost or replaced by other checks. By means of my improved locking device, the checks are securely held on the cars and are automatically released by the movement of the car to its dumping position. By adjusting the bolt 22 in the slot 21, the position of the weight 24 may be readily altered so that the mechanism will operate to release the I check when the car is tiltedto the position necessary to empty the same of its contents. It will be readily seen that when the car moves to the proper angle the weights 24 and 33 will move by gravity to their release positions as shown in Fig. 2 so that the check may be removed. It will further be understood that the lock may also be used for a great many other purposes than those speeilied, and is not restricted to the particular use above set forth.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and operation of my improved check lock will be readily understood without requiring any further description. The mechanism is extremely simple, durable in construction and highly efficient in practical operation. The cover plate 6 is preferably secured upon the lock case by means of a plurality of bolts 40 which are disposed therethrough and through the opposite side wall of the case, suitable nuts being threaded upon the ends of said bolts.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the various parts, it will be understood that the lock is susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the essential feature or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. In a lock of the character described, a pivoted locking element normally held by gravity in its locking position, a pivotally mounted rod engaging said locking element, a gravity actuated member laterally adjustable toward and from said rod and adapted to actuate the same when in one position, a pivotally mounted manually operable element to support said adjustable member against gravity movement when the locking element is in its locking position, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said last named element in either direction.

2. In a lock of the character described, a case having an opening in one of its walls, spaced parallel plates disposed upon opposite sides of said opening and extending into the case and having notches in their opposed edge portions, in combination with a check adapted to be inserted through the opening in the case and between said plates, said check having a notch in one edge to register with the notches in said plates, and gravity actuated locking means arranged in said case, said locking means including a loop member pivotally mounted upon said plates and extending into the notches of the same and the notch in said check to lock the check in position between the plates.

3. In a lock of the character described, a pair of pivoted locking elements normally held by gravity in their locking position, a U-shaped rod engaging said locking element, a pivotally mounted adjustable gravity actuated arm to engage said U-shaped rod to move the locking elements to their release positions, and manually operable means to support said arm against movement when said locking elements are in their locking positions.

4:- In a lock of the character described, a pair of pivotally mounted locking elements normally held in their locking positions by gravity, a U-shaped rod pivotally mounted at its ends and engaging said locking elements, a pivotally mounted rod having a loop formed therein and an angularly disposed arm formed on one of its ends to engage said U-shaped rod, a weight carried by said loop to swing said rod upon its pivot and engage the arm with said U-shaped rod to move the same and throw the locking elements to their release positions, and a pivotally mounted operating rod to support said weighted rod when said elements are in their locking positions.

5. In a lock of the character described, the combination with a case having an opening in one of its walls, of spaced parallel plates extending into said case, said plates being disposed on opposite sides of said opening and having notches in their upper and lower edges, a pair of locking elements pivotally mounted upon said plates, each of said elements having a looped portion, gravity means carried by said elements to dispose said loops in the notches of the plates, gravity actuated manually controlled means arranged within the case to actuate said locking elements and move the same to their release positions, in combination with a check adapted to be inserted through the opening in the case and between said plates, said check having notches in its opposite edges to register with the notches in said plates and to receive the looped portions of the locking elements.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. FREELAND.

Witnesses A. M. WARREN,

ISIDOR HARTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

